Breast Cancer Awareness Month

This has been an exciting week for Imaging Technology News (ITN) — as I write this, we are on location at the Cleveland Clinic Main Campus Breast Center shooting a roundtable discussion on stereotactic procedures. The purpose of this roundtable was to discuss some of the challenges that radiologists and technicians face when performing stereotactic procedures, and possible ways to make the experience less traumatic and stressful for the patient. Our esteemed group of experts included Laura Shepardson, M.D., a breast radiologist at the Cleveland Clinic where she also serves as associate director of breast imaging; Susan Miller, M.D., also a staff radiologist at the Cleveland Clinic; and Cynthia Miller and Stacey Veri, technologists at the breast center.

During the roundtable, Shepardson presented a series of case studies, and the group discussed fundamentals of the procedure, including positioning — stressing the need for a skilled technician; targeting; sampling; and post-biopsy procedures, including biopsy devices used.

The underlying theme of this roundtable focused on the patient experience: What can the medical team do to ensure that the procedures are done accurately, efficiently and with as little patient discomfort as possible. You will be able to watch — and learn from — this roundtable discussion in October at itnonline.com.

And, as another year passes, the research and technology to better detect breast cancer continues. In honor of Breast Cancer Awareness Month, ITN is proud to go pink in an effort to continue to spread attention and awareness of this disease. In this issue, you will find several articles that address the progress that is being made in women’s health technology.

• On the cover, Toshiba’s Vantage Titan 3T MR system provides a spacious exam environment, allowing patients laying on a breast coil to experience a more comfortable exam. You can read more about this MRI system, and others, on page 3.

• “Breast Cancer Screening Update,” on page 44, discusses some of the legislative efforts being made to provide direction for breast cancer screening across multiple modalities.

• Page 46 features a cancer advocate and survivor’s viewpoint on how social media has helped form relationships and awareness based on the common bond of breast cancer.